Cricket 1892

“ Together joined in cricket’s manly toil.*'— Byron. Registered for Transmission Abroad. THURSDAY, AUGUST 25, 1892. p r i c e m . CRICKET NOTCHES. By th e R e y . R . S. H o lm e s . L ast week I went on pilgrimage, some twenty miles across the Welsh mountains, for the sake of getting a sight of and chat with a well-known cricketer of the past. Everybody has heard of the dramatio finish of the University match of 1870, when Oxford had three wickets standing and were within four runs of victory. And then came the last over, the most memorable perhaps in the entire series from the beginning. The three wickets fell, and the score was not altered; and so the Light Blues won after all by three runs. The hero of that fight was F. C. Cobden, whose name will be evergreen, when many a greater bowler shall be forgotten. He has been for eighteen months “ mine host ” of the Tan-y-bwlch Hotel, Capel Curig, on the high road to Bettws-y-Coed, and conspicuous for some distance by bright red blinds all over the front of about as comfortable a hostelry as North Wales can show. Unfortunately I missed h im : but I was shown two balls, duly inscribed, which record in different forms his immortal feat, as well as another ball, given for his bowling in the Harrow and Eton Match of 1866. And I had the further pleasure of look­ ing carefully through a handsomely bound (full Morocco) scrap book, called “ Cricket Remin­ iscences,” filled with scores, portraits, comic sketches, and notable letters from several cricketers. The old Cantab cannot get much cricket close at hand, except on the main road; but he occasionally plays for the Llanrwst Club, only, however, when the wicket is good, as his bowling, which is almost as fast as ever, would be dangerous on a rough pitch. Not many front-rank cricketers come this way; quite recently A. N. Hornby and a party drove from Llanfairfechan, and there was the sound of revelry on that oc­ casion. For a downright good house com­ mend me to the Tan-y-bwlch. Long may its worthy host and hostess flourish. Does anybody spot the following.— “ As a slight proof of what the climate of C------has done for me, I may tell you that I entered my 70th year on Saturday last, having played in a cricket match a week previously, and am due for another match next Wednesday.” Such is a brief extract from a delightfully long letter to hand a few days ago, just such a letter as only the writer could pen. Need I say that it comes from the dear “ Old Buffer ” himself. It ia a private communication, and so no more can be reproduced here. When I had read it through, the words instinctively came from my lips— “ God bless h im ! ” We all send our old friend a message of good will, coupled with an earnest hope that we shall yet see him in the old country. Should he turn up at the Oval and I am there, I vow that we will welcome him in the most approved fashion by singing in chorus, “ For he’ s a jolly good fellow.” Many years of quiet happiness be his portion in his far-off home. I note that A. C. MacLaren has been so seriously damaged that he may not again be seen in flannels this season. We are all sorry both for him and his county. How blessedly free from accidents cricket is, and how very seldom an expert cricketer gets an ugly blow. Of course if a man is not properly padded and gloved, he must expect nasty blows. Au reste , accidents are for the most part the penalty either of clumsiness or of inattention. If short-leg gets floored at the moment he is not watching the batsman, blame him, but not cricket. The only fatal accident to a first-class cricketer within my memory happened to poor George Summers, some twenty-one or twenty-two years ago, when playing for Notts v. M.C.C. That fast kicking ball delivered by Platts might have proved fatal to any batsman. Summers’ mother only recently passed away, at an advanced age. She kept the “ Summers’ Hotel,” immediately facing the Midland Station at Nottingham, and was quite a character in her way. Contempor­ aries of her son’s, like Richard Daft, used often to drop in and see the old lady. She was never tired of talking of her poor lad, and used to beg Daft to give up the game for fear of a similar fate. A s she was a noted herbalist, many a visitor feigned an ailment just for the sake of witnessing her gratifica­ tion at making up a huge bottle of her famous mixture, which, if not always “ taken,” was, at any rate, always taken away with many expressions of gratitude. I am glad to see that the Irish Gentlemen are again going on tour through the States and Canada. They did so once before (in 1888), and a very readable record of their doings and seeings was the result. One likes to watch the progress of the game on the other side. They have some capital cricketers out West—Patterson, Bohlen, Wood, Stoever, and others. And they had a cricket-reading public as well, which is a most healthy sign. Thus the American Cricketer, on the lines of this journal, is now running its fifteenth season. Then for the past three years they have issued the “ American Crioket Annual,” which closely resembles our own Red Lilly, whilst this year George Wright has brought out another “ Guide,” which has more than a likely look about it. The more, the better. Every new manual or serial on the game helps on the circulation of the older ones. People like to read everything, just as they kept on with the “ Illustrated ” when the “ Graphic ” made its appearance. I was not alone in my regrets when the <?ld Green Lillywhite became incorporated into Lilly - white’s Annual. There was certainly room enough for both on their respective lines. Public interest is kept alive by the public press. We owe a lasting debt to the anony­ mous writers who so faithfully reproduce current matches. Where would cricket en­ thusiasm be but for them ? And so the thunderbolt has fallen at last, and once again from the West. Last year Surrey were the viotim s; this year Notts have been made to cry small. I am inclined to think that last week’s notches were of the nature of a prophecy. One never knows. The unexpected is continually coming to pass. And in consequence the fun is now getting fast and furious. Where will the County Championship find its resting place after ail this year? Please to note that the leaders have each to meet both Lancashire and Kent; that adds to the excitement. Notts are rest­ ing for three days; they must put their house in order, and have time to get their wind again. Surrey, in full sail, are off again; will their boat get a “ bump ” ? It was a gloomy week for the lace men. The draw with Glo’stershire was an inauspicious start. They were too full of runs, as the sequel E roved. Yet 429 in fine weather ought not to ave been too big a score. It’s all very well to be wise after the event, and even when the days are getting clipped. Still such an innings on the part of Notts is sure to run well on into two days. It was a great effort, however. It ;ave Shrewsbury another century opening, iis fifth so far; whilst his old pals, Gunn (68), Barnes (65), and Attewell (54) had a hand in it; so indeed had “ nephew,” and Harry Daft (39). Glo’stershire had only a draw to play for, and they succeeded. Painter, of course, thumped away—it is his nature to: 107 was his aggregate ; but W . G. played the right game. In nearly double the time occupied by Painter’s 70, he was setting Attewell and Co. at defiance to the tune of 43 (not out), Ferris’ 17 (not out) being of great service also. I wonder whether the Notts men anticipated a draw long before their innings came to a close. If they did, they could please themselves as to whether they threw away their wickets or no. A good batsman, nearing his 50, doesn’t like to forfeit the extra sovereign. Why should he ? And is he wrong in not reducing his average by sacrificing his wicket ? On dit that the Surrey men got out on purpose later on in the week. Let them, if they like to. Their aim for years has been to have every match finished one way or the other. I must once more refer to the Closure law. Why wait for the third day before making use of it ? At the end of the first day Notts ought to have been able by law to terminate their innings, had they deemed it wise so to act. This is a stupid limitation, for which I